Specimen Information

Submit bug, tick or insect in a sterile container. Submit in 70% Ethanol if possible or for suspected scabies see the following procedure.

Laboratory diagnosis of scabies is determined by demonstration of the mites, eggs or fecal pellets (scybala) in skin scrapings. The most common areas where mites can infect are the webbing of the fingers, folds of the wrist, knee or elbow, genital, buttock area, breast or abdominal region. The mite tends to burrow in warm areas of the body. To make a laboratory diagnosis of Scabies the following is the recommended procedure that the physician use to collect a skin scrapings

1. Using a sterile scalpel blade, place a drop of mineral oil on the blade. Mineral oil is preferred over potassium hydroxide or water. The mites will adhere to the oil and the oil will not dissolve the fecal pellets, whereas potassium hydroxide will dissolve the fecal pellets from the mites.

2. Allow some of the mineral oil to enter the papule or burrow while you scrape the infected area. The mites will usually be found at the ends of the burrow tracks.

3. Scrape the infected sites vigorously to remove the top of the burrow. There should be tiny flecks of blood produced.

4. Transfer the oil and skin scrapings to a clean glass microscope slide.

5. Send the glass microscope slide in a sterile container to the laboratory for examination.